Teeth are made from highly mineralised tissues, but they can still become damaged through decay, trauma, grinding or clenching, existing restorations and other structural factors.
Treatment depends on the type and extent of the damage, symptoms, condition of the dental pulp and amount of remaining tooth structure. Options may include monitoring, bonding, a filling, crown, root canal treatment or another approach where clinically appropriate.
Treatment options for a damaged tooth may include emergency dental assessment, crowns, bonding, fillings, root canal treatment or extraction, depending on the clinical findings.
Types of Tooth Damage
The type and extent of tooth damage depend on factors such as the location and depth of a chip, crack or fracture. Examples include:
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Broken tooth
A broken tooth may involve enamel, dentine or deeper tooth structure. The extent of the damage varies, and the dental pulp is not necessarily involved in every fracture.
A tooth may fracture because of factors such as decay, reduced remaining tooth structure around large restorations, grinding or clenching, or dental trauma.
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Chipped tooth
Chips can occur after dental trauma, grinding or clenching, or biting hard objects. Some chips involve only enamel, while others may extend into deeper tooth structure. Symptoms can include sensitivity, discomfort or a sharp edge, although some chips cause no symptoms.
Management of a chipped tooth depends on the size and location of the chip, symptoms and remaining tooth structure. Options may include monitoring, bonding, a filling, crown, veneer or another treatment where clinically appropriate.
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Cracked tooth
A cracked tooth has a fracture line within the tooth structure and does not necessarily mean the tooth has separated into multiple pieces. Possible contributing factors include dental trauma, grinding or clenching and biting forces. Symptoms may include pain during biting, temperature sensitivity or localised discomfort.
Some cracked teeth require urgent assessment, particularly where there is severe or worsening pain, significant swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or dental trauma. A vertical root fracture involves the root of the tooth, and management depends on the fracture location, tooth involved and surrounding tissues.
Treatment Options for a Damaged Tooth: Dental Bonding
Dental bonding may be considered for selected minor chips or fractures where enough tooth structure remains for a direct composite restoration.
Where bonding is appropriate, tooth-coloured composite resin is applied, shaped and hardened according to the material and treatment plan.
Treatment Options for a Damaged Tooth: Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a restoration that covers the prepared portion of a tooth. A crown may be considered where the fracture pattern and remaining tooth structure are suitable for a full-coverage restoration.
An impression or digital scan may be used to design the crown. Fabrication methods and the number of appointments vary according to the restoration and treatment workflow.
Crowns may be used where sufficient tooth structure remains for restoration. Crowns can also form part of some dental bridges used to replace missing teeth.
Treatment Options for a Damaged Tooth: Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment may be considered when the dental pulp is irreversibly inflamed or infected and the tooth is otherwise suitable for treatment.
Pulp inflammation or infection may cause pain, sensitivity or swelling, although symptoms vary. Root canal treatment involves removing affected pulp tissue and cleaning and shaping the root canal system.
During root canal treatment, the dentist creates access to the pulp chamber and uses instruments and irrigating solutions to clean and shape the root canal system.
The root canal system is sealed after cleaning and shaping. Further restorative treatment depends on the amount and condition of the remaining tooth structure.
Replacing a Tooth That Cannot Be Restored
If a damaged tooth cannot be predictably restored and extraction is required, a dental implant may be one possible tooth-replacement option.
A dental implant is surgically placed in the jawbone to support a dental restoration. After an appropriate healing period, a prosthetic restoration may be attached where clinically suitable.
Implant treatment involves several stages that vary according to the individual case. These may include implant placement, a healing period, placement of an abutment and fabrication of the final restoration.
Dental implants and bridges have different clinical considerations. Implants cannot develop tooth decay because they are not natural teeth, but the tissues around an implant can still develop inflammation or infection. Changes to jawbone can also occur following tooth loss and during implant treatment.
Arrange an Assessment for a Damaged Tooth
If you have damaged a tooth, a dentist can assess the extent of the damage and discuss whether monitoring, bonding, a filling, crown, root canal treatment, extraction or another approach may be appropriate. The urgency depends on the type of injury and symptoms.
- Over-the-counter pain relief may be appropriate for some people. Follow the product instructions and ask a pharmacist, doctor or dentist if you are unsure whether a medicine is suitable for you.
- After dental trauma, a cold compress wrapped in cloth may be applied externally for short periods.
- If biting on the affected tooth causes discomfort, avoid placing unnecessary pressure on it while waiting for assessment.
- Dental wax may be used temporarily over a sharp tooth edge that is irritating the tongue or cheek, where it can be applied without forcing material into the damaged tooth.
Radiant Smiles Dental Bundoora provides assessment and treatment for damaged teeth, with the appropriate approach determined by the clinical findings.
Dental assessment can help determine the extent of tooth damage and whether treatment is required.
Contact Radiant Smiles Dental Bundoora to arrange an assessment if you have a chipped, cracked or otherwise damaged tooth.
Seek urgent medical assessment if dental or facial symptoms are causing difficulty breathing, significant difficulty swallowing, rapidly increasing facial or neck swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or another potentially life-threatening problem.
